What to Pack for Lord Howe Island (And Why the 14kg Limit Changes Everything)
Packing for Lord Howe is different from packing for most holidays because of one brutal constraint: 14kg checked baggage. That's it. Non-negotiable. The small aircraft that fly to the island have strict weight limits, and they will weigh your bag at check-in. If you're over, you either pay for excess or leave stuff behind.
This means you need to be strategic. No "I'll throw it in just in case" packing. Every item needs to earn its place. Here's what I'd recommend based on our September trip, broken down by category.
Footwear
You need two pairs of shoes for Lord Howe, and both need to be functional.
I did the Mount Gower hike in a pair of Nike runners. They held up fine on the track and I finished the hike without any issues, but looking back, I'd recommend something with more ankle support if you have it. The track has loose rock, muddy sections, and rope-assisted scrambles where your feet take weird angles on the rock face. The Lower Road section has a drop-off on one side and loose gravel underfoot, so grip matters. My Nike runners had decent tread but no ankle protection, and there were two or three moments where I felt my ankle roll slightly on uneven ground. Proper hiking boots are the safer choice, particularly for the rope sections where you're putting weight on your toes at odd angles. If you already own hiking boots and they're broken in, bring them. If you'd need to buy new ones, a pair of solid trail runners with good grip will get you through.
Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX hiking boots
Reef walking shoes or water shoes for the lagoon and reef snorkeling. The coral is sharp and the rocks around some beaches are rough. Don't go barefoot. You'll cut yourself on coral.
Budget option: a pair of old sneakers you don't mind getting wet. They dry overnight and you don't feel precious about them getting salt damage.
Snorkel Gear
The tour operators provide snorkel gear, but it's always better when you bring your own mask and snorkel. A well-fitting mask makes a massive difference to the snorkeling experience. You know it won't leak or fog. The provided masks are usually generic sizes that don't fit everyone perfectly.
Cressi snorkel mask and snorkel set
If you snorkel regularly, bring your own fins too. The provided ones are usually generic sizes and can cause blisters on longer sessions. For Lord Howe specifically, a thin wetsuit top or rashie is worth packing for September through November when the water is 19-22°C. A 2mm rashie takes negligible luggage space and makes a huge difference for comfort on longer snorkels. Without one in September, I was cold after about 30 minutes. With a rashie, I could stay in the water for an hour comfortably. If you're visiting in summer (December to February), the water is warmer and a rashie is optional but still worth having for sun protection on those full-day reef trips.
Camera and Underwater Gear
You will regret not bringing a waterproof camera or a GoPro. The reef, the sharks, Ned's Beach fish feeding, the views from Mount Gower, the light at sunset. Lord Howe is one of those places where every second thing you see is worth photographing.
A waterproof phone pouch works as a budget alternative. Just make sure you test it before you go (fill it with tissue paper and submerge it in the sink). Losing a phone to a leaky pouch in the Lord Howe lagoon would be a rough day. Phone pouches are $10-20 and weigh almost nothing.
Clothing
Pack for warm days and cool evenings. September was pleasant during the day (mid-20s°C) but mornings and evenings dropped to about 15°C. Rain can come at any time of year. Here's the minimum for 5 days:
- 3-4 t-shirts or active wear tops (merino or synthetic, nothing cotton)
- 2 pairs of shorts
- 1 pair of long pants or leggings (for the Mount Gower hike and cool evenings)
- 1 warm layer (fleece or merino pullover)
- 1 rain jacket (lightweight, packable, absolutely essential)
- Swimmers (2 pairs so one can dry while you wear the other)
- 1 smart casual outfit if you want to look decent at dinner (clean shorts and a collared shirt is the dress code island-wide)
- Underwear (5-6 pairs)
- Socks (5-6 pairs, mostly for hiking, lightweight trail socks not bulky wool)
Icebreaker merino base layers are the gold standard here.
Merino wool is ideal for Lord Howe because it handles both the warmth and the cool evenings, doesn't smell after multiple wears (important with the luggage limit), and dries quickly if it gets wet. You can wear the same merino top multiple days in a row and it won't smell like you've been hiking. Cotton absorbs moisture and smells fast, so skip cotton completely on a trip with luggage limits.
What Your Accommodation Typically Provides
Most places provide pillows, towels, basic toiletries, and sometimes a hair dryer. Some include breakfast, some don't. Check your booking confirmation. This information helps you pack smarter. If breakfast is included, you need less food in your bag. If the lodge provides towels, you don't need to pack extras.
Sun Protection
The UV on Lord Howe is intense, especially on the water. Bring:
- Reef-safe sunscreen (the island is serious about protecting the reef, and reef-safe is the right thing to do)
- Wide-brim hat or cap
- Sunglasses with a strap (for snorkeling boats and biking)
Your accommodation might have complimentary sunscreen at the desk, but don't rely on it. Reef-safe options can be hard to find in standard shops, so bringing your own ensures you have what you need.
Day Pack
You need a small day pack for Mount Gower (water, lunch, rain jacket, camera) and for general island exploring. Something 15-25 litres is perfect. Don't bring a huge hiking pack for an island trip, which wastes luggage space. A compact day pack can be stuffed flat in your main bag and takes up minimal space.
A lightweight pack that clips to your luggage when empty and deploys quickly when needed is ideal. The Osprey Daylite is what half the hikers on our Mount Gower group were carrying, and it handled the full day comfortably.
Other Essentials
- Reusable water bottle. There are refill stations around the island and your accommodation will have filtered water. Don't rely on buying bottled water, which creates waste and isn't sustainable.
- Torch or headlamp. Some island paths aren't lit at night, and if you're walking back from the bowls club after dark, you'll want light. A small LED headlamp weighs almost nothing.
- Insect repellent. Mosquitoes exist on Lord Howe, especially near vegetation after rain. Something compact and lightweight.
- Gloves for Mount Gower. Light gardening gloves or cycling gloves work fine. The rope sections tear your hands up without them. Pack thin ones to save space.
- Small dry bag. For keeping your phone and wallet dry on boat trips and snorkeling tours. A simple stuff sack works.
- A book. No phone reception means actual downtime. Bring something to read.
- Binoculars. I brought a pair specifically for birdwatching and used them constantly. The bird life on Lord Howe is next level, especially after the rat eradication. You'll spot species you've never seen before just walking around, and binoculars turn a casual stroll into something you actually remember. Compact travel binoculars don't weigh much and earn their luggage space here.
- Whoop or fitness tracker. I wore my Whoop the whole trip and it was great having the data on the Mount Gower hike. Nine hours of hiking, the heart rate spikes on the rope sections, recovery metrics after. If you already have one, wear it. If you don't, any basic fitness tracker works. It's satisfying to see how much you actually moved on an active island trip.
- First aid basics. Paracetamol, antihistamine, plasters, blister treatment. The island has a small medical clinic but it's better to be self-sufficient.
What NOT to Pack
- Heavy jeans or dressy clothes. Nobody cares. The fanciest restaurant on the island is "clean shorts and a collared shirt" level. Don't waste luggage weight on formal wear.
- Laptop. Leave it at home. WiFi is slow and you're supposed to be disconnecting. The whole point of remote island travel is the break.
- Multiple pairs of shoes beyond the two mentioned. Luggage space is too precious. Thongs/flip-flops can be a third pair if you absolutely must, but shoes are bulky.
- Hair dryer, bulky toiletries. Accommodation provides basics. Travel-size everything. Most accommodation has hair dryers if you need them.
- Excess snacks. The general store and cafes have you covered. Don't waste luggage weight on food.
- Expensive jewellery or camera equipment. Keep it simple. You don't need a $3000 camera to photograph Lord Howe. A GoPro does the job better for this environment.
Packing Weight Strategy
Here's a rough weight breakdown to stay under 14kg checked:
| Category | Estimated Weight |
|---|---|
| Clothing (5 days) | 3-4 kg |
| Hiking boots | 1-1.5 kg |
| Snorkel gear (mask + snorkel) | 0.5 kg |
| Rain jacket | 0.3 kg |
| Day pack (packed flat) | 0.3 kg |
| Camera/GoPro + accessories | 0.5 kg |
| Toiletries (travel size) | 0.5 kg |
| Misc (torch, gloves, dry bag, book, binoculars) | 1.5 kg |
| Total | 8-9 kg |
That gives you buffer for unexpected items. Wear your hiking boots and heaviest clothing on the plane to save luggage weight. Carry your day pack as carry-on with camera gear, book, and valuables inside.
What I Actually Wore
Nike runners for the hike (worked fine but proper hiking boots would be better), swimmers I already owned, t-shirts and shorts I already owned, a merino top I already owned, a Whoop fitness tracker for the whole trip, and reef shoes for snorkeling. Basically, stuff I already had plus a few key purchases. Don't feel like you need to buy an entire hiking outfit. Use what you have and supplement with essentials.
The Nike runners held up on Mount Gower, but there were two rope-assisted sections where I wished I had proper ankle support. Runners are fine if you're confident with scrambling and your ankles are strong. If you have any history of rolling ankles or you're not used to uneven terrain, spend the money on trail shoes with ankle support. The rocks on the summit section are wet and slippery, and a rolled ankle up there means a helicopter evacuation. Not worth the risk to save 300 grams of luggage weight.
For what it's worth, the guide was wearing well-worn Salomon trail shoes, and every experienced hiker in the group had something similar. The runners-vs-boots debate is settled for Lord Howe: go with a proper trail shoe that has grip and some ankle structure.
Total Gear Cost (New Purchases Only)
If you already own basic activewear, the new purchases for Lord Howe are minimal:
| Item | Approx Cost (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Snorkel mask and snorkel set | $40-80 |
| Reef shoes | $25-40 |
| Reef-safe sunscreen | $15-25 |
| Compact day pack (if you don't own one) | $60-100 |
| Hiking boots or trail shoes (if needed) | $150-250 |
| GoPro (if you want underwater photos) | $350-500 |
| Total new gear | $150-500 (without GoPro) |
Most people won't need everything on this list. The snorkel set and reef shoes are the two purchases that almost everyone makes specifically for this trip. Everything else, you probably already own some version of.
This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission if you purchase through these links, at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep creating honest adventure content.
Stay Wild
Real stories from real places. No spam.